Report
Urges Precaution On Genetically Engineered Corn(Beyond Pesticides, November 12, 2004) The Commission
for Environmental Cooperation (CEC), an agency established to advise
the U.S., Canada and Mexico on the environmental impact of free trade,
released a report on November 8, 2004 entitled, Maize and Biodiversity:
The Effects of Transgenic Maize in Mexico: Key Findings and Recommendations.
According to a November 9th Chicago Tribune story, the report
which was immediately criticized by the biotechnology industry, focused
mainly on the future threats of genetically engineered (GE) corn in
Mexico.

The key concern
that led to the writing of this report is “gene flow” from
GE corn to Mexican maize and its wild relatives. Such gene flow may
threaten the diversity of land species in the case of traditional maize,
crop varieties with a broad genetic base resulting from thousands of
years of development and adaptation to particular soil types and microclimates.
This is of particular concern not only because of the socio-cultural
and economic importance of traditional maize agriculture, but because
Mexico is a center of origin for this important food crop.

The Chicago
Tribune reported that among the recommendations to assure that
the imported corn does not get planted and contaminate Mexico's native
corn were milling all U.S. corn upon its arrival in Mexico, better labeling
of the imports and extending a moratorium on commercial planting of
lab-engineered corn until more safeguards are in place.

"With the current
varieties being imported, we haven't found an impact, but they haven't
really been studied either," Chantal Line Carpentier, head of the
agency's environment and trade programs told the Chicago Tribune.
"The concern is for what [engineered corn] varieties are coming
down the line."

The Bush Administration
condemned the report, saying it is "fundamentally flawed and unscientific.”
In a statement, the administration added, “Implementing many of
the report's recommendations would cause economic harm to farmers and
consumers in all NAFTA countries and restrict international trade.”

Some have accused
the Bush Administration of trying to bury the report, but after a copy
was leaked to Greenpeace and published in the Mexican news media, the
administration agreed to its release. However, they deny trying to obstruct
its release, saying they needed the extra time to "set the record
straight on this issue."

The CEC stands firmly
by the report. Copies of the report are available online at www.cec.org/maize.